HC dismisses AI union’s plea against eviction

First India Bureau Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Monday dismissed petitions filed by three Air India Employees’ Unions challenging the airline’s decision to evict them from the staff quarters at suburban Kalina noting accommodation is not provided as a matter of right and was not a term of employment. A division bench also said monetization of lands and properties of Air India Limited was one of the essential terms of the airline’s disinvestment process.

The court said if em- ployees continue to hold on to flats then Air India Asset Holding Company would not be able to monetize the land to reduce the burden of Air India’s debt. The bench, however, stayed its order for two weeks to let the unions appeal in the Supreme Court.

“It is not that every employee is granted accommodation as a matter of right,” HC said.

First India Bureau Mumbai: On Monday, NCP leader Ajit Pawar opposed the state budget in the Legislative Assembly terming it to be ‘a barrage of unfulfilled announcements.’ “I don’t think anyone will get relief from this. The finance minister should have taken care that the provisions and schemes made in the budget should go ahead. Last year, the budget was presented on the basis of ‘Panchasutri’. This time Fadnavis gave the name ‘Panchamrit’. Wherever they go, they give a little ‘panchamrit’. After that, they give prasad. Mahaprasad was given to the BJP, prasad to Eknath Shinde, and we were given a little, ‘Panchamrit’. This was not expected from Fadnavis. The fiscal policy requires consistency and clarity to enable any economy.”

Seeking Relief

Danve, respectively, Chief Secretary Manu Kumar Srivastava, Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) Manoj Saunik and various unions of the state government employees.

Acknowledging the role of employees in the state’s growth, Shinde said the solution for their social security will be found through dialogue.

Shinde said there was no road map by the states that have implemented OPS.

Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has extended its support for the restoration of OPS as its

(Bhagwant Mann) government has done in Punjab.

Under OPS, the pension amount is provided by the government, which increases its liability, whereas the NPS has a contributory mechanism from the employee as well as the government.

While the BJP at the Centre has steadfastly refused to go back to the OPS, parties like the Congress have been batting for it.

Several employees’ groups have been protesting across the country for reintroduction of the OPS.

Deputy CM Fadnavis ‘gifts’ 25,000 houses to Dhangar community

First India Bureau

Mumbai: The budget session is currently going on in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and post budget, the opposition has targeted the ruling Shinde-Fadnavis government. Meanwhile, on Monday, Fadnavis gave a big gift to the Dhangar community by announcing to give at least 25,000 houses for them.

Addressing the Dhangar community, Fadnavis said, “We prepare different housing schemes. However, the Dhangar community is not getting the desired benefit from it. So, we clearly decided that houses have to be built. But 25,000 of these houses should be given to the Dhangar community. This number is a minimum, not a maximum. It is better if we get more houses than this. People will gradu- ally understand the schemes, and they will take advantage of these schemes. We have to take these schemes to the people, it is our responsibility.”

“In fact, a Rs. 10,000 crore scheme has been announced to provide interest-free loans to the Dhangar community. Some people think, how is this possible? But we have been working on it for the past few months. The state government can borrow through the National Cooperative Corporation (NCDC). In this regard, our minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil and I both met Amit Shah,” added Fadnavis.